WBIW.com News - state

Convicted Minister And Convicted Coach To Be Released Early

(INDIANAPOLIS) - A convicted sex offender will be getting out of jail early this week. This time it’s a minister sentenced to a decade behind bars being released just two years into his sentence.

"This is crying for reform," said Senator Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis.

Eva Pilgrim, of Fox59, reports Daniel Moore, the former pastor of the New Whiteland Baptist Church, was convicted of child solicitation and sexual misconduct with a minor for having sex with a 15-year-old church member back in 2010. He was sentenced to 10 years, but is expected out this week, just two years in.

Merritt said it's gut wrenching because it's just another case of a sex offender taking advantage of the system to get out early. Moore isn't the only one due out this week. Former Lawrence swim coach Chris Wheat is also expected out, less than two years into an eight year sentence.

"Both individuals gamed the system," said Merritt.

"It is a wound that does not seem to be healing," said the father of Wheat's victim. "Every time we think something is going in the right direction, we get a new wild card dealt to us."

Wheat's jail reduction breaks down in the following manner:

Sentenced eight years

Take away four for good behavior

Take away another year for an associate's degree earned

Take away 489 days for a bachelor's degree

It's something Wheat's victim's father just doesn't understand.

"They are giving him credit for classes he took 18 years before he started this new degree program."

Merritt agrees.

"First of all, if they're going to have education credits they need to start with zero and work up from that," said Merritt.

Merritt said he is also concerned that Wheat earned a computer science degree behind bars, when inmates can't even get on the computer. He said he has questions as to why inmates are getting degrees that aren't usable outside of whittling down jail time.

Merritt is also already working on a bill to put an end to education credits for sex offenders.

Both men are due out at the end of the week.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com